Explosive-gas



(No Mudel.) 4

J. .W. LAMBERT.

EXPLOSIVEYGAS ENGINE. r

I No. 536,287. I Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LAMBERT, OF UNION CITY, OHIO.

EXPLOSIVE-GAS .ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,287, dated. March 26, 1895.

Application filed July 1 8, 1 8 94 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LAMBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Gas Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings. 1

This invention relates to that class of gas engines in which the gas is exploded in the cylinder by means of an electric-spark, and the special object of the present improvement is to-provide a simple arrangement whereby a strong, live spark will be produced at the proper instant, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a gas-engine cylinder providedwith my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation .thereof, and Figs. 3 and 4 slightly modified forms of the sparking-points or electrodes.

In the drawings, a designates the stationary contact, which consists of a rod adjustably supported, by means of clamping nuts I), in an opening formed in the top of the cylinder. This electrode is carried by a plate 0 which is bolted over the opening in the cylinder and is provided with a cylindrical extension c which extends into the cylinder through the opening therein. The electrode passes through this plate and its extension and is insulated therefrom by means of insulating blocks (1, these blocks being held in place by said nuts 1). One of the electric wires is attached to this stationary electrode and the other wire is, as is usual, connected to the frame of the engine. The movable contact e consists of an arm secured to the inner end of a rock shaft 6 by means of a set screw e, said rock shaft being journaled in and extended through the adjacent cylinder head and provided at its outer end with an operatin g arm e This rock shaft is shouldered and beveled at e and adapted to fit in a beveled seat in the inner side of the cylinder head, in order that the escape of gases out through the shaft-opening shall be prevented. To keep the beveled shoulder e pressed constantly to Serial Np. 517.906. tNo model.)

its seat a coil-spring e is placed around the shaft between the cylinder head and the arm a". Pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm (5 is a rod f which extends out horizontally to one side of the cylinder and is adjustably connected by means of clamping nuts f to the upper end of an upright spring f This spring extends down straight for a portion of its length and is formed into a spring coil f at its lower end, and its lower end is bolted firmly to an arm f carried by the engine. Secured to the spring f at a suitable point on its straight portion is a bearing block f against which impinges a cam g, secured on a shaft g journaled alongside the cylinder.

The tendency of the spring f is to push rod f and thereby keep the contacts separated. As the shaft g rotates, cam 9 will impinge against the block f and gradually bring the sparking-contacts together, and as the shoulder of the cam passes below the bearing block the pressure of the strong spring-arm 3 will suddenly separate the contact points and thereby produce a good, live spark. Itwill be seen that the essential feature of this arrangement lies in the use of the shouldered cam and the bearing-shoe carried by the strong spring connected by an operating rod to the movable contact or electrode, whereby the contacts shall be brought together gradually but positively and then suddenly separated, thereby insuring a good spark at each operation. By the adjustment afforded by clamp nuts f the pressure of the contact points against each other and the 'suddenness with which they separate may be readily regulated.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rock shaft carrying the movable electrode is journaled in the plate 0' parallel to and alongside the stationary electrode and the contact arm e swings at right angles to the stationary electrode; otherwise the construction is the same as in the other form. The plate 0 in this arrangement is preferably bolted over an opening in the head of the cylinder instead of on top of the cylinder as in the other form shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- The combination of a gas engine, a stationally together and suddenly separate them, substantially as and for theipurpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. LAMBERT.

Witnesses:

F. L. MARSHALL, II. E. LONGENEOKER. 

